The Rising ‘Posh-Poor Divide’: The Way Prosperity and Deprivation Are Found Cheek by Jowl in England.
In Nunsthorpe, residents live in homes only a few metres from their more affluent neighbours in nearby Scartho. One six-foot-tall wall literally separates the two areas in Grimsby, Lincolnshire, blocking off roads and walkways that once linked them.
“It’s the divide between rich and poor,” remarked a resident, 37. “It’s been like this for as long as I’ve known. I doubt they’ll take it down because I don’t think they’ll want to associate with us.”
A Stark Pattern Across the Country
Data from official figures reveals the extent of disparity often exists, at times over little more than a few metres of asphalt, a line of hedges or a barrier. Years of budget cuts and underinvestment mean a majority of local authorities now contain a locality ranking as one of the most deprived in the country.
The spread of deprivation has coincided with a sharp rise in the quantity of places where disadvantaged and well-off people end up as immediate neighbours. Just a few years ago, just 65 of the poorest areas adjoined one of the wealthiest. This number increased to 119 in the latest data.
A Barrier Which Divides More Than Space
At this Lincolnshire site, the gap is the biggest in the UK and painfully obvious. The wall is much more than a metaphorical divide; it causes tangible problems for daily routines.
- The school commute that ought to take 15-20 minutes turn into an sixty-minute journey.
- Access to important amenities like grocery stores, schools and care homes is hindered.
- The site often sees antisocial behaviour, with instances of litter being thrown over the wall and other problems.
“People strive to maintain a nice house and nice garden, and then you live opposite that,” noted one resident, gesturing towards the rusted metal wall.
Community Spirit Against a Backdrop of Challenges
At Centre4, staff stress that support does not recognise postcodes. “Where you live is not a reliable indicator of your level of challenge,” explained chief executive Tracey Good.
Regardless of ranking in the lowest 10% for income, employment, education, health and crime, the estate retains a fierce loyalty and feeling of community among its residents. Meanwhile, the neighbouring area is classified among the most prosperous 10% overall.
Echoes Elsewhere: Stanhope in Ashford
This phenomenon is repeated across the country. The Stanhope area in Kent, a mid-century overspill estate, is in the 10% most deprived of neighbourhoods in England. It is closely bordered by spacious detached homes built in the 2000s that sit in the wealthiest tenth for employment and quality of surroundings.
“They may possess bigger houses, but here there’s more community,” said Phil Hockley, 63. “You’ll probably find a lot of people over there don’t even speak to each other.”
The economic divide is clear: an typical family home sells for about £275,000 on the Stanhope estate, while across the divide equivalent properties go for about £410,000.
Residents describe a tangible sense of neglect. “Our neighbourhood is neglected,” stated holistic health worker Susan Riley-Nevers. “In this area our amenities have slowly been taken away, and most of the community problems here are related to poverty.”
The rise in these ‘deprivation divides’ presents a portrait of an increasingly divided society, where prosperity and deprivation are frequently awkwardly in close proximity.